Addressing the closing ceremony of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) congress, Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu declared that the law will be strictly enforced against anyone who commits a crime, regardless of their status, lineage, or political affiliations. He emphasized that true justice requires holding offenders accountable without exception, describing leadership as a sacred duty to be fulfilled under Islamic principles.
Reflecting on past judicial interference, President Muizzu referenced previous political crises, including the imprisonment of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and Supreme Court justices, which he characterized as dark moments in national history. He assured the public that since taking office in 2023, his administration has maintained strict judicial independence, avoided political imprisonment, and invested in judicial infrastructure, such as reviving the long-stalled Superior Court Complex project.
The President noted that while tyranny must be prevented, true justice also demands that unlawful violations of public rights and property undergo thorough investigation through proper legal channels. He asserted that long-term national stability depends entirely on an impartial justice system.
These statements coincide with upcoming legal developments involving former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, who has been summoned to the Criminal Court on September 29 for pre-trial hearings concerning bribery and money laundering charges related to the lease of V. Aarah. After his initial December 2022 conviction was overturned by the High Court in late 2023—a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court in July—Yameen now faces a retrial under updated evidentiary rules.
